USC Says They Never Authorized Anyone to Contact Del Rio or Dungy

We’ve heard reports that USC contacted both Jack Del Rio and Tony Dungy for the open head coaching position over the football team. However, it seems this may have been some sort of catfish hoax. NBC Sports is reporting that USC’s athletic department has made a statement saying they hadn’t given authorization to anyone to contact possible candidates.

Per the USC athletics website:

“USC has been alerted that individuals posing as USC representatives made overtures to two coaches regarding the Trojans’ head coaching position….A person falsely identifying himself as a high-ranking member of the USC athletic department attempted to make contact several times with the Denver Broncos.”

USC’s Athletic Director Pat Haden was also quick to note that the coaching position hasn’t been extended to anyone.

“Tony’s discussion on the radio today of being contacted by USC was a complete surprise to us. So were the calls made to the Broncos. I can assure you no authorized representative of USC or our athletic department made these calls. As I said last week, we will not comment on every name that comes out. It would be a disservice to our players and coaches, who are devoting everything they have into the remainder of our season. We have a head coach right now in Ed Orgeron. We have not offered the job to anyone.”

Basically someone is lying and it may be that USC doesn’t want to look stupid after being rebuffed by Dungy. Either way, it doesn’t look like Trojan fans will know who their next head coach will be any time soon.